The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the L.A. Clippers 135-118, with Luka Doncic scoring 43 points to lead the victory. This win improved the Lakers to 13-4 on the season and secured West Group B in the Emirates NBA Cup. Doncic expressed excitement about advancing beyond the group stage for the first time.
In a dominant performance against their crosstown rivals, the Los Angeles Lakers secured a 135-118 victory over the L.A. Clippers. Luka Doncic led the way with a game-high 43 points, including 32 in the first half, exploiting a struggling Clippers defense. Both teams entered the matchup 2-0 in West Group B of the Emirates NBA Cup, but the Lakers claimed the tiebreaker advantage over the Clippers and the Grizzlies with this result.
The win not only boosted the Lakers' overall record to 13-4 but also extended their current five-game winning streak. As the inaugural champions of the NBA Cup in 2023, the Lakers now advance to the quarterfinals, giving Doncic a chance to experience deeper tournament play. Following the game, Doncic shared his enthusiasm, saying, “I mean, obviously, I’ll accept money. That’s easy, but I never got more than, I think I never got past the group stage. So, something new for me. I played in Spain, something like this. So, I like it. Just the courts, please.”
Looking ahead, the Lakers face the Dallas Mavericks on Friday to conclude group play, though the outcome will not impact their NBA Cup position. Doncic, motivated by his history with his former team, could aim for a perfect group record. However, he raised concerns about player safety, noting that the specialized NBA Cup courts were slippery, leading to multiple falls during the Clippers game. He hopes this issue is addressed before the next matchup.